Emerging from Depression: Treatment of Adolescent Depression Using the Major Treatment Models of Adult Depression.

Long, Kathleen M.

Noting that adolescents who commit suicide are often clinically depressed, this paper examines various approaches in the treatment of depression. Major treatment models of adult depression, which can be directly applied to the treatment of the depressed adolescent, are described. Major treatment models and selected research studies are reviewed in the areas of: (1) cognitive therapy; (2) cognitive and behavior therapy; (3) cognitive therapy with pharmacotherapy; (4) the use of pharmacotherapy for acute depression; (5) treatment of manic depression with lithium; (6) the use of lithium in learning and behavior problems; and (7) reality therapy. The paper concludes that a combination of therapies may be needed to treat depressed adolescents: one therapy may be needed to treat the condition immediately, especially if the teenager is suicidal, and another therapy may be needed later to alter cognitive distortions and to encourage responsible choices in coping with life's problems. (NB)